Mubarak Struggles as Middleman in Gaza Cease-Fire Effort

By

Farnaz Fassihi in Cairo and

Joshua Mitnick in Ashdod, Israel

Updated Jan. 13, 2009 12:01 a.m. ET

Cairo's efforts to broker a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas stalled Monday, turning the Gaza conflict into one of the biggest foreign-policy challenges in decades for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

ENLARGE

Hosni Mubarak

Former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and other officials participating in peace efforts signaled discussions were progressing to establish a negotiating track, but there was no sign of a breakthrough.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to meet with Mr. Mubarak as part of a Mideast tour to press for Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

A spokesman for Hamas's Damascus leadership said the organization had reservations about Mr. Mubarak's cease-fire plan but would continue discussions with Cairo.

Israeli troops, meanwhile, battled Hamas militants Monday, and Israeli tanks advanced into densely populated parts of Gaza City by early Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The diplomatic wrangling in Cairo is proving to be a major test for Mr. Mubarak, 80 years old, who has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years. Resentment is growing in Egypt and across the Arab world at Mr. Mubarak's decision to keep Egypt's only border crossing with Gaza largely closed, rather than give Hamas a way around Israeli blockades. Egypt sealed the border in 2007 after Hamas overran the territory in a split from the more moderate Fatah party that leads the Palestinian Authority and controls the West Bank.

Fighting Moves Into Gaza City

Associated Press

Israeli forces moved into densely populated urban centers in Gaza for the first time Tuesday as officials said Israel's chief negotiator would go to Egypt for "decisive" talks on a cease-fire.

Protests and other signs of Arab anger have increased pressure on Mr. Mubarak to find a diplomatic solution to the current fighting.

But opening the border for Hamas would be seen as bowing to militants with roots in Egypt's own Islamist opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood.

It could also help prop up Hamas's rule inside the territory by providing it with an economic lifeline. A thriving Hamas could provide disaffected Egyptians an alternative model to the moderate, Western-leaning government Mr. Mubarak hopes to turn over to a successor.

Mr. Mubarak has held onto power in large part by dismissing calls for reform and crushing opposition parties. Analysts say he is trying to keep intact his legacy of Egypt as a moderate, Western-leaning, Middle East powerhouse.

Mr. Mubarak "does not want Hamas to turn into a governing political model for Egypt because that would undermine everything [he] has built," says Issandr El Armani, a Cairo-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.

ENLARGE

The deployment of Israeli reserve forces to the Gaza Strip on Monday signaled Israel's preparation to possibly intensify its assault on Hamas militants, as Egypt convened negotiators to push for a cease-fire agreement.
Getty Images

Mr. Mubarak's government has deflected criticism over the Gaza crossing. "The criticism is not fair," said Ali Hillal, secretary of information for Mr. Mubarak's ruling party. "Egypt has continuously played a role to end the hostilities there, and we are doing everything we can to help the Palestinians and at the same time abide by our international agreements."

Cairo has agreed to take in a trickle of wounded from Gaza through Rafah in the last two weeks. Since the crisis began, the Muslim Brotherhood has capitalized on Mr. Mubarak's stance, publicly challenging the government's position on Gaza. "He has no concern for Arab dignity, only his own interests," said Mohamad Habib, the group's deputy general consul.

The group, which is outlawed in Egypt, but tolerated, has organized widespread protests around the country, particularly after Friday prayers.

Since Israel began its Gaza offensive on Dec. 27, Egyptian authorities have dramatically increased security on the streets of Cairo. During recent demonstrations, dozens of the Muslim Brotherhood's members were arrested by Egyptian security forces.

In Gaza, the Palestinian death toll climbed Monday above 900, about half of them civilians, according to Gaza hospital workers. Israel officials, quoted on state radio, claimed 400 Hamas fighters had been killed. Israel casualties stand at 13, including three civilians.

Recently, Israeli tanks and infantry, stationed just outside Gaza City to the south and east, have been advancing toward the edge of the city at night, engaging Hamas in fierce gun battles, and withdrawing in the morning, according to Palestinians.

Israel said it launched the operation to force Hamas to stop rocket attacks on cities in southern Israel and to destroy as much of the militants' fighting infrastructure as possible.

Hamas is calling for an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has left 1.5 million residents without water, food and electricity.

After saying on Sunday that the offensive was getting close to reaching its goals, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert seemed to leave the door open to both diplomacy and escalation on Monday.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.